AGARTALA: Even as overall situation along the Indo-Bangla border appears to be normal, around 22 militant hideouts still exist across the border, said Inspector General (IG) of BSF, Tripura Frontier RK Mishra.
Of the total hideouts, five to six camps are situated just 5 km from the international border and most of them are concentrated at Chittagong High Track (CHT) in Bangladesh, he said at Salbagan, Frontier Headquarters today.
Five to six of them are within five km from the international border,” Mishra said.
Mishra, however, said the authority of Bangladesh Border Guards (BGB) has been very cooperative with the BSF.
“Whenever we pass any information to BGB, they send team to verify the matter. In some cases, they (BGB) appear handicapped due to dense forest and hostile condition in border areas of CHT”, he said.
On being asked about the outcome of DG level meeting held recently in Dhaka, the IG declined to pass any information on it. However, he said, “The meeting was very coordinal and fruitful”, he claimed.
Terming the smuggling along border an everyday battle for BSF troops, Mishra said of 522 km border, a total of 720 km has been fenced so far and working is in progress along 148 km.
“Around 83 percent fencing work has been done and the progress could have been more if there had been no rainfall. However, the work will gain good pace after completion of Durga puja”, he said.
Around 72 percent work of flood lighting along the border has so far been completed and remaining work is expected to be completed by June/July next year, he said.
He also said that altogether 81 new composite Border Outposts (BOP) would come up along the 856 km border with Bangladesh.
As of now, 18 Bns of troops have been guarding the 245 along relatively peaceful border.
Mishra also expressed concerned over the ‘influx’ of criminals from Bangladesh into Indian territory and re-entry of the same criminals into Bangladesh soil after committing crime.
“When the situation in the fringe is peaceful, criminals of both the countries are trying for cross-border migration after committing crimes,” he said.
An IG level meeting of BSF and BGB is scheduled to be held after Durga puja to increase understanding between two sides to curb cross border crime including smuggling and infiltration, he added. DIG BS Rawat was also present there.